DOWAGIAC — Dancers of all ages and skill levels looking to keep their moves in check have several summer dance camps to choose from at Green Dance Academy.

Green Dance Academy, 141 S. Front St., Dowagiac, which also has additional locations in Niles and Decatur, is hosting camps and classes in a variety of dance styles for anyone wanting to stay active this summer.

Mary Green, 23, has been the owner of the dance academy for less than a month. She was passed down the studios from dance veteran Kathy Miller, who retired after 45 years of managing Miss Kathy’s School of Dance.

“It’s been wonderful,” Green said. “The first couple of camps started this last week and this week. The kids are really enjoying their classes and learning a lot.”

While Green has kept many of the dance camp details the same as past MKSOD camps, she has added her own spin on several of the camps’ themes. This year’s Tutu Sweet Dance Camp for 3- to 4-year-olds will be superhero themed. Activities and crafts will be aimed towards superheroes of all kinds, Green said.

Another summer camp called Ballet and Broadway Dance Experience will have dancers 8 to 12 years old learning three separate Broadway musicals and creating a craft to go along with their classical and jazz performance.

A fairytale dance camp for 5- to 7-year-olds will feature students learning a new fairytale every day with dance, music, theater and art. Dancers will also create a creative prop to be featured in a performance shown to their parents after the camp is finished.

This week, Green is teaching a ninja hip hop camp, inspiring dancers to learn the moves of a true ninja, she said.

“It’s a little bit of a combination of hip hop,” Green said. “It has a little touch of acro, and they’ve been learning some fun tumbling and a couple of other fun, different moves.”

The class also created ninjas out of paper bags and will host an exhibition performance at the end of this week.

The rest of the classes offered this summer include technique classes in acrobatics, ballet, jazz and tap. A ballet intensive class will also be hosted.

So far, registration for the camps is following patterns of previous years, although there are still some spots available, they can fill up quickly, Green said.

“They are exciting because of all the crafts we get to do,” Green said. “Everyone gets to take something home with them and show it off to their parents. It’s a fun opportunity for kids.”

Dancing over the summer is recommended for more advanced dancers who want to continue to grow constantly, Green said.

“It’s important because it helps them maintain the skills they’ve learned throughout the year,” she said. “They also grow new ones throughout the summer.”

Green has always encouraged older dancers who are more serious to continue taking classes so they can keep up with their strength, flexibility and technique over the summer.

Green’s goal for this summer is to continue a smooth transition between her new ownership and Miller’s past ownership.

“I want my parents and clients to feel comfortable and confident that they are still getting a quality education for their dancers,” Green said.